Alright everybody. It’s that time. Grab your fingerless, studded leather gloves, tease your hair out so it looks like you stuck your finger in a light socket and send your red leather jacket through a paper shredder. Yes, we’re gonna rock out to some Billy Idol and listen to the buy low tale of Alfred Morris. But wait, what, huh? How’s a guy who’s performing well – currently a mid-range RB2 in most formats – be close to consideration as a buy low you ask? Well, under the hood there’s some stats. Morris is currently 4th in rushing yards per game (78.7), 8th in total rushing yards (472 with his bye week already passed), tied for second for 20+ yard runs on the year (5) and 4th in yards per attempt (5.2). With all of that, how in the world could he be underrated you ask? Simple: touchdowns. Morris is currently tied with a plethora – word of the day – of guys who are stuck at 3 rushing touchdowns ranging from Brandon Jacobs (yuck sauce) to Kendall Hunter (yes, a backup RB). This whole pile is 1 TD behind Morris’ teammate Roy Helu. You know, the guy who got every rushing TD in the game on Sunday. Three actually. Frustration creates opportunity if you’re ready to seize it. Given the dearth of injuries this last week and the steady nature of The Butler, a ROS RB6 or RB7 is well within sight and this could be your last chance to get in on that. Buy while you still can and let out a little Rebel Yell while you do. In other buy/sell news for 2013 Fantasy Football…

BUY

Kendall Wright – Strictly a PPR league call. I’m not telling you I love the guy – I don’t – but there’s something to be said for consistency. He’s had one bad PPR game – week 1 with 2 receptions and 11 yards – but he was gimpy heading into that game. Since, he’s averaged about 5.5 receptions and 70 yards a game. Half-PPR leagues, that’s about 9.5 to 10 points a game and it’s almost been money in the bank. Near the end of the year, having that on your bench when you need a WR that’ll help you out is huge. Again, we’re not talking Josh Gordon break out ability here but sometimes simple and cheap gets you through the week much better especially when it’s on bye and no one is that excited about it to begin with.

T.Y. Hilton – This one feels obvious. And yet, the buzz is about DHB taking over the WR1 role in Indy. I question if the people saying this have actually watched a football game in their lives and are strictly looking at depth charts with that kind of response. DHB stands for ‘Drops His Balls’ and I’m not referring to puberty here. DHB laments like the Rock Biter on about every other pass thrown to him. I’m not saying TY will replicate Wayne’s production but barring any trades I think the consistency will now be there to become a WR2 ROS. Couple that with the Colts being on bye, say TY to the TY owner who trades him to you. Oh and by the by, Lavon Brazill: deep league player of interest now.

Jarrett Boykin – Cobb down and out for quite a while. Jermichael has a bruised spinal cord. James Jones is slowly recovering from a PCL sprain. And Jordy can’t be thrown to on every one of Rodgers’ average 36 attempts a game. You just never know with these kinds of buys. Maybe the Packers grab the reigns of their division early and don’t need Cobb back immediately. Maybe James Jones plays it safe for a few more weeks and Boykin gets a chance to shine. It’s all about opportunity in this game and if Jarrett can seize it, you know what the Packers offense can do. Invest while the price should be fairly low.

Danny Woodhead – Someone asked if they should pick up Woodhead in their ten team league this week. Pick up? Don’t you mean trade for? It’s week 7 and a guy who’s just one spot behind Alfred Morris in standard scoring for running backs in fantasy football is on waivers somewhere? Ok, maybe that’s not the greatest example as we know he’s owned everywhere but you either think he’s going to keep up this solid production or you don’t. And I do think he’s an RB2 ROS at this point given the Chargers and how they’ve used him. And he’s on bye. See if the owner is desperate and needs a play this week and is willing to move him. And before you ask, yes this pretty much applies to all the Chargers that are ownable at this point (Rivers/Mathews/Allen/Gates) to varying degrees. Gotta love bye week crunch trade plays.

Zac Stacy – Too much negativity surrounding the Rams at this point. I get it for the passing game but I think Stacy is a volume play that you can get for peanuts. I don’t expect much from him this week vs the Seahawks but he’s gonna be that RB2 at the end of the year you wished you added when everyone else got scurred. Pull out your big cojones and wave them proudly by getting Stacy.

Brandon Bostick – Deep league alert! It sounds like Finley is going to need surgery and Bostick is what’s described as a true ‘move’ tight end. Hey, if a receiving TE of Aaron Rodgers doesn’t move you, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.

Sell

Jacquizz Rodgers – Yeah, it’s obvious. This isn’t even about the SJax return to practice at this point. The kid’s just not that good. Sure he scored you 2 touchdowns last week through the air. But he had 16 yards on 8 carries on the ground. Sixteen is divisible by eight to the tune of 2 yards per carry. Moving forward, I don’t trust his role in the offense. If the poopa-loompa sweetens a deal you’re itching to make, stop scratching and just do it already.

Harry Douglas – Look, I get it. He just went 7/7 on receptions and targets, had a career high in yardage with 149 and a touchdown and has almost zero competition to be a volume-play stud…right? Wrong. He’s still Harry Douglas. If someone wants to pay to play with your Harry D, do it now.

Michael Vick – He’s back as the starter! Hooray! Now sell him like he hasn’t failed you for a couple of weeks before getting hurt. To put this sell to you another way: 25/34/15/13/11/0/0. That’s his output each game this season per ESPN. You noticing the trend? Yeah, ain’t purty. Yes, his run game gives him a nice floor but he hasn’t really hit his ceiling much of late and I don’t think a 34 year old QB who’s coming off a hammy issue is really that good of a get but someone out there might. Exploit it like you’re Madoff…only don’t get arrested and die in jail of course.

hey sky great work all over the website… I’m just here to do some bragging… back in week 3 I commented in your rankings post that Mr Woodhead should be ranked higher, and you had said no and you backed it up with good numbers to justify the ranking… look at where we are now. Where should I drop the application off at to work for Razzball. Haha just kidding of course, I was just lucky to be ahead of the game for once. Thanks again for all the great work.

Big thing is Quarless can’t catch though. I’ll take 30-35 snaps and 5-7 targets any day over the starting blocking TE. Again, a gamble based on time on field but could have a nice day as the TE who’s actually thrown to

@Sky: A gamble for sure, with no pedigree there. Eifert hasn’t been putting up beast numbers or anything but he’s a fine TE and he popped his cherry with a TD last week. No reason he can’t do it again. A TE duel to the death sir!

@Abe Froman: I’m crossing my fingers he puts in a limited practice today. If he does, that means he is making progress on the concussion protocol. If not, then we are completely in the dark for a timetable as the Pats are unlikely to tip their hand in any other mechanism.

I currently have PT and could get Mathews or Stacy from an owner by giving up a pick with PT. I always play for the currently season so the pick does not matter to me. I just want to make sure I am upgrading by a good amount.

We can only start 2 RBs and I already have AD and Bush so besides upgrading bench talent, I need someone to play Week 9 for Bush’s bye.

10 team ppr league – I have Finley, McGahee, and Stacy as borderline guys and just lost Martin for who knows how long. My starting RBs are RBush and LMiller with Vareen on IR for a couple more weeks. I’m considering dropping McGahee for a TE like Clay, but should I consider just dropping Finley instead and drop McGahee to try and claim Mike James?

@smegma: I’d be looking to drop Finley there. And I’d drop McGahee for James since he’s your handcuff to Martin. You’re getting to mid-season, means you’ll probably need to spend around the same price as Miller.

@Foooootball: Morning…not trying to be difficult but these questions are way too broad of a topic. Boldin maybe? Mathews? Really, these questions depend more on the Harvin owner’s needs than they do about what you want to trade for him.

Give Stacy and Olsen, get Garcon? Other team lost Martin and is going to have to start Lamar Miller going forward, with Tate and Hunter as his bench RBs. He’s also weak at TE and I have Gronk, so Olsen’s extraneous. I like Garcon’s schedule and after losing Cobb I’ve got a bunch of WR2/3 (Nicks, Randle, T. Williams, Allen). We start 2 RB, 3 WR, no Flex, standard scoring w/ bonus. Or maybe aim higher, offering Rice or L. Bell and trying to get Nelson?

@Sky: Thanks. The other owner is trying to convince me why this is a fair offer and why this is good for my team. He knows way more than I do (and he’s 7-0) but he is a good friend of mine and I truly don’t think he’s intentionally trying to pull a fast one on me. I just think he’s wrong.

So now he’s asking about Bush for Luck straight up. I told him no on that one too.

How concerned should we be on Brandon Marshall?
Injured hand, no Cutler, trouble with double coverage and losing touches to Alshon. Would it be opportune to search a trade? Or is this something you sit and wait and see?
Your blog is awesome, and it would be cool to see you discuss some upper tier WR, there is upside and down side with many of them.

My Q:
Thinking of trying to upgrade at RB. I have Mcfadden and Matthews, trade one with Marshall for Reggie Bush and maybe Deanrious Moore or Pierre Garcon. Crazy?

@Ferris: If you got that for B-Marsh, I’d be shocked. That’s a hefty price tag. Can try, though.

Thanks for the love! I think Marshall will be fine. This isn’t an Arizona/Fitz situation. McCown is no Cutler but he’s also no immobile Palmer or Skelton and Marshall is one of the best in the game at adjusting routes to help his QB. He’ll be fine but that trade would be a major win for you, especially if you got Garcon. It’s still pretty good w/Moore.

I was told yesterday that trading nicks for zac Stacy n Emmanuelle Sanders was a good trade for me cause I lost Martin. My question is should I get grab Jennings instead of Sanders or with Freeman there he’s a dud?

@Mikey: Still like Miller. Wish Miami did. I’d be looking to move Fred Jackson while he’s playing ahead of Spiller on the depth chart due to injury, personally. Vereen’s not back until week 11, think that drop would be premature.

Next week I have Kaepernick and Julius Thomas on Byes. I need to drop 2 of these guys. I have 6 WR and 6 RB. Ill give you full list so you know depth
Cruz, Andre Johnson, Jordy, Keenan Allen, T. Williams, Colston
Morris, Ridley, Stacy, Woodhead, MJD, Mike James
Thanks

@Sky: ha. Nah its 10 team keepee league. Kept cruz, morris ridley, andre. Drafted mjd, colston, jordy. Then I live on that free agency. This league has only waiver for people dropped. No waiver from sunday-wed like all other leagues. So I’m all over that shit on sundays. Haha

Stacy still on the wire in my 10 team PPR. Trying to figure out if I should pick him up/who to drop. Martin was dropped too but maybe not worth the bench room to stash?. I have Foster, Tate, Murray, Randle, L Miller, Chris Johnson as RB’s. Worst, most dropable WR is K Allen (loaded here). TE’s are Miller and Olsen. Backup QB is Pryor.

In a PPR, I’d keep Miller for consistency and drop Olsen for him. Demarco Murray is already running this week. Could be a good time to stash Martin for that reason over Randle but it might be wiser to wait.

For PPR, do Ellington or James have significantly more upside?
Ellington flashes talent but is capped by snaps and a weak team, James is capped by all the forces that capped Martin though he has an easier path to touches. If neither breaks out soon, the back up plan is to switch to Foster’s handcuff or Vareen (depending on Foster’s health) next week.

@Sky: Sorry Sky, the blather about Foster and Vareen is not important for your feedback.
I own Ellington, James cleared waivers. The key bit of the question is who do you think has a better chance to elevate above their current ROS replacement value expectations (both are just above it for my shallow 12-team league with 40 RBs owned and a 4RB limit, so I can’t own both)?

@Sky: along the lines of my question yesterday then… Say Graham is out and I play Reed at TE. That leaves me with Gordon or Ridley for flex. I’m leaning Ridley there now. I think Gordon is going to have a TOUGH time finding paydirt or even racking up the yards against KC at KC and with Campbell under center. What do you think?

They’re both low upside plays at this point to me. I’d still say Gordon because of the PPR factor. Ridley won’t be catching many passes and it’s not a great running matchup. I understand your sentiment though.

4) I have AP and Moreno as my RB1 and RB2. Has Peterson fallen to flex-level for you? With those two guys, would you still advise giving up Decker for Alf? It would leave me short at WR this week between byes and injuries, but I can live with a 1 week fill-in if it will make me significantly better long-term.

1) I’d still take Dez there but I’d want a wild card in return to go with it

2) I trust Gates’ targets more so yes. I question you have the RB depth to make that trade…3 for 1 RB? I think you’re gonna do more harm than good.

4) AP’s still AP. At worst, he’s a top 5 RB ROS in my book. I don’t know how short you are when you say ‘short’ but I like Morris as an RB1 ROS and think it’s a fair trade and you’ll be more consistent from the trade. You’d have 3 RB1s for three spots in your lineup but again, if Decker’s your WR2 or WR1 and you’ve got guys like Kerley or Kenbrell Thompkins as your WR2 or WR3, then I’d say hold.

@ashtray: For keeper purposes, I like the first three. I’d only do the first one if I’m not planning on making the playoffs. I wouldn’t trade away a younger player for an older player like Gronk for Andre, though, in a keeper.

I have Vick and RG3 as my QB in a 14-team non-PPR league. If I look to sell Vick, the teams needing a QB most have the following players I like: Team A: TY Hilton, AJ Green. Team B: Jamaal Charles, Dez Bryant. Team C: Sproles, Alfred Morris, Jordy Nelson.

Which, if any, of the players listed do you think are the fairest 1-to-1 offers for Vick?

boykin for lamar miller trade? bye week has me starting bryce brown and kendall hunter….oof. i’m willing to take this week on the chin though, so im balancing ROS potential; will miller ever get the lions share in MIA or do I stick with Boykin’s potential

Hey sky, With Amendola practicing I might need a better bye week replacement than Edelman if Amendola plays. Which of these do you like to pickup. 5PPR – Marvin Jones vs Jets, Robert Woods vs No, Jerome Simpson vs GB? If there’s any other WR deep sleeper you think is out there I’m all ears but these seem like the best choices.

We talked yesterday about a trade including my harem of TE’s. I ended up not trading Cameron and James for Gio and Ivory. Instead, I traded Cameron and James for Mike Williams and Eddie Lacy. I would have had no RB2 week 10 so I decided to pass on the first deal and now Lacy is free to fill my RB2 spot ROS.

Question #2: I haven’t seen an official GB report yet, but I can/should drop JERMICHAEL FINLEY, right? Just making sure I’m not missing something like he’s only out for a few weeks with bruised spinal cord. Everything Ive been reading, assumes he’s out for season and will be lucky to play again. But, i tend to not drop guys until I see official IR designation. Clarity, please…

Well, your WRs are a little scary if Harvin doesn’t come back but it’s a good looking team. You should look to move Gronk if Graham’s completely healthy. Solid looking squad, though, if Vick/Kaep find consistency.

My bad!
I should have mentioned that we are only required to start 2 WRs. I am going double TE set using Gronk as a flex. I used to say if you use 2 TEs in your lineup, you should just start studying baseball early with Greystroke.

12 team .5 ppr. 2 rb, 3 wr, no flex. I asked advice on several trades yesterday which got shot down for one reason or the other. I have finally been offered Stacy and dez Bryant for my Steven Jackson,, colston, Reuben randle. He may throw in joique bell also to make it an even 3 for 3.

My remaining Rbs are trich, woodhead, and vareen. My remaining wrs are Cruz, Hilton, and Simpson. Trying to pick up wright this week on waivers as well. Thoughts?

My team sits at 5-2 and 1 game out of first. I have at RB Martin, Moreno, James, Bell and McGahee. WR – Decker, Marshall, Cruz, Hartline and Tate. My TE is Gresham.

This is a PPR keeper (can keep two each year drafted after the 3rd round) and I am thinking of offering Martin (can be kept) and Cruz (can be kept) for Gates (can be kept) and Dez Bryant (can’t be kept).

@Moscowitz: Naturally, but Vereen is definitely coming back. May not be until playoff time, but if Pearce never says another start, you missed out on a guy that will definitely play. I’m dropping Pearce this week myself.

Drop Doug Martin with this team? Not feeling the Bucs rushing game this year even when healthy. IF he returns, Martin may be eased back in gradually bc TB sux ..Keeper 12 teamer, shallow bench ppr. Luck is on bye so I have to drop someone.
RB1 Lacy
Rb 2 Stacy
Bench Ellington
Bench Helu
Doug Martin?
I guess I could also drop Keenan Allen or Harry D. Am I being to impatient? I am ready to move on from Martin.

1. with this bostick news, it sounds like he’d be better TE depth than guys like these, with their this week matchups listed. I missed out on reed due to this league my team is actually good. either one of these or bostick will be going along with bennett.
fauria vs DAL
ertz vs NYG
fasano vs CLE (nfl.com projections have him higher than mcgrath)
housler vs ATL
chandler @NO.

1. rocking CIN all year at DEF, thought they’d be a likely top 10. this far into year they are the 16th fantasy def, even without having had a bye yet (so actually worse). should I keep them or start streaming? Only def i own in other leagues where i stopped streaming are CAR and KC.
2. in a different league where I am already streaming (MIA most recently) which of these is best this week?
PHI vs NYG
TB vs CAR
PIT @OAK
NYJ @CIN
ARI vs ATL

@Sky: in one of the league’s where i am streaming def both CAR and NE just got dropped. I’m guessing grabbing CAR or NE instead other streaming teams (DAL,MIA,PIT,CLE,NYJ) is a good idea? If so is CAR better than NE? NE has more fantasy pts.

I have a bye week one for you, I need to pick two of these four to play this week at the WR spot. This kind of WR depth is a little beyond my handcuffs. Riley Cooper, Jason Avant, Kenbrell Thompkins and Marvin Jones?

lost out on kerley and hillis for this week (kerley to replace m.williams), but I wasn’t going to waste a season long waiver (continual rolling list type, damn I hate those) claim on the upgrade from williams to kerley. I’m rolling tolbert out there this week along with p.thomas (terrible RB this week for me, due to byes and having just traded f-jax for a.brown (NYG) + dola), unless rankings tip me off to somebody else (ogbonnaya, probably not).
It wouldn’t be hard to have RCL commissioners change the waiver type from
continual rolling list
to
weekly based on standings
there’s really only 2 types. I do get that it would have to be planned with a good amount of time in advance so as for everybody to know about it. I would think the majority of commissioners and members would prefer a waiver system that benefits the down on their luck teams first, as this promotes competitiveness.

It’s an all for 1 and we’re mid-season. Sorry, can’t set that for this year but for sure will keep in mind for next year. The big thing you have to realize is the more steps you add, the more likely people won’t set things correctly. Sad but true.

@Sky: yeah, you can’t change settings mid-season, wouldn’t be fair. and you’re right when there’s more variables, there’s more that could go wrong. i’m guessing ogre is ogbonnaya? i’m having to start one of these bums since I only have vereen/a.brown(NYG)/p.thomas/c.johnson(TEN)/martin(dropped), and i just grabbed tolbert to start this week. basically won’t be able to use a RB at flex until brown and/or vereen are back.

Not needing to use any of these RB’s this week, just wondering if it’s worth picking up either Z. Stacey or C. Ivory in exchange for McGahee for ROS?

Also wondering since I have Cameron and not the best matchup this week if I should instead play J. Reed and on my other team play Clay, Fauria or Celek instead of Cameron.
Thanks for all your help and FYI, your D advice last week to use Carolina was Awesome advice!

That’s a needs call. I don’t think FJax holds this status all year and that CJ eventually gets healthy. Nicks just a question of whether or not he gets his head in the game. I think i’d rather have Nicks there, honestly.

I think Miami is having issues planning their offense appropriately and it’s not just Miller. I don’t want a part of that offense right now. It’s a mess. That said, I still like Miller and I’d hold unless a trade wow’ed me.

in one of the league’s where i am streaming def both CAR and NE just got dropped. I’m guessing grabbing CAR or NE instead other streaming teams (DAL,MIA,PIT,CLE,NYJ) is a good idea? If so is CAR better than NE? NE has more fantasy pts.

@Sky: no they’re quite high as well, that’s why i’m picking up one of them, unless exactly both teams above me in waiver grab them first by middle of night saturday-early sunday. i’ll set CAR first, then NE second.

Same league, another offer on the table is Cruz+Mathews for Vernon Davis+Ridley. Given my situation, do I take it? I have Orange Julius as well (I start both Davis and Thomas because there’s an additional W/T slot). Maybe sub in DMC for Ridley? Or Orange Julius for Davis?Desperation sucks, lol. Thanks again.